North Carolina Newspapers

I Went . UNTO THOSE HILLS By J. P. BRADY This Is going to be one of those "I went, I saw, I liked"' sagas, concerning any number of people, including Macon County s own, an excellent dramfc, and it will probably con tain a moral. And like all good stories it begins with once upon a time So, once upon a time, just about a year ago to be more specific, a new-born babe with a story to tell tried out its lungs with resounding success This newcomer, a top drawer attraction fro.m the start was named "Unto These Hills", its story is a down-to-earth en actment of what the Chero kee Indians faced in the on rush of a growing democracy. Well, little "Unto These Hills" Saturday night celebrated what appears to be the first of many Happy Birthdays, and entered its second season of tale-telling. Good plays, like cheese, ripen with age, , and the Cherokee story, with a year's maturity under its belt, is no exception to the rule. Following its birth last year the garnishing of flowery su perlatives from newspapers and critics ordinarily would have swelled the head of Western North Carolina's newest tourist booster. However, being a rath er brainy child with an eye to the future, "Unto These Hills" set out to improve itself instead of relaxing on its laurels. And improve it did! Some revision's in the music ? ?nd story department, all to tl? good we .'.night add, better ser^fllg, and a will to please a fickle >ibl); has reserved a place fd^the drama on the rocket to ftfne, baring an act of Congress, course. And the only jvwslble objection this county s governing body could ha? would be the use of red |r costumes. So, we can assume that the play is here to stay. By some weird stroke of fate (the boss couldn't make it) this reporter journeyed to the Cherokee village Friday to cover a meeting of the Western North Carolina Associated Communi ties. I soon found out that I wasn't far from home. A rather hefty portion of Franklin, all beating the heat in the shade, formed a welcoming party. They were headed by Franklin's own mayor, R. M. Dillard, who em phatically denied that he was in Cherokee to clean the place up. In fact, he at one time 1 lived in Cherokee. Being birds of a feather, the locals stuck close together, through dinner, the meetings, and preview showing of the drama at the Mountainside theatre. Throughout the afternoon jpersplration reigned and that night a different kind of mois iure, Just as wet as the other, made an unscheduled appear ance. But that comes later! Most of those from Franklin moved a step closer home for supper by dropping down on the "midway" and eating at the Sequoyah restaurant. The res taurant owner was none other than S. W. (Sammy) Beck, Franklin's band director, who by his own admission serves the best "10 cent hamburgers In town for 40 cents". During sup per . Mr. Beck supervised the erection of a new sign in front of his restaurant and calmly received the news that he had just become a father. Nobly restraining from whist ling at the shorts-clad lady tourists. who were very much in evidence (ah Spring!) we began tile migration to the Mountainside theatre. (Think ing back, that whistling could Jiave been a near fatal move. My wife was ttlong!) Before long the amphitheatre was ^packed, the lights dimmed, and jthe show began. What a relief to see a show wlUaout a popcorn eater pursu it* his fluffy grain in your earl Charles Browning, a Franklin ite who is making quite a name for himself in theatrics, appear ed In the role of "White Path" ( and turned in a sterling per formance. He played the game role last year and turned in a / ( SXS. HO. 1, PACK 13 4-H Dress Review Set For Today Twenty-two 4-H girls have In dicated they plan to take part in the county-wide 4-H Dress Review this afternoon (Thurs day) at the Agricultural build ing, Mrs. Barbara B. Hunnlcutt, assistant home agent, said this weefc The show will begin at 2 o'clock. Each entry will be given a small gift by the assistant home agent and winners will be presented ribbons. The public Is invited to attend the review. 3 INJURED THIS WEEK ON MACON COUNTYROADS T wo Accidents Reported On Bryson City Road, One On Highlands Three persons were injured in three automobile accidents on Macon County highways this week ? one injury a result of the highway buckling under summer heat. Two of the accidents occur red on the Bryson City high way. Saturday afternoon about 2:30 o'clock Mrs. J. R. Pressley, of Canton, was admitted to a local hospital for treatment of head injuries. Her husband told investigating officers that the cement buckled in front of his automobile and he was forced to swerve to the side of the road. Frank Bailey, of Franklin, Route 4, a passenger, was un injured. The second accident on the Bryson City stretch happened Sunday afternoon abput 6 o'clock Mrs. Logan Allen, Sr., and Mrs. Sam Bowers, both of Franklin, were admitted to a local hos pital for fttatment.. Mrs. Allen suffered head tojtrtos *nd Mrs. Bowers was treated for cuts and bruises. i The driver of the car, Thom as Russell Turpln, 30, of Frank lin and the U. S. Navy, told officers that he was forced off the road by an automobile pass ing another In a curve. Damage to Mr. Turpln's car, a 1951 Chevrolet, was estimated at 41, 100. He was not injured. Tuesday evening about 6:30 o'clock Hyman Schlldhouse, a salesman from Cleveland, Ohio, lost control of his automobile on the Highlands road and roll ed down an embankment into the mountain stream running at the side of the highway. The salesman, although shaken up, was not injured. Power Company President Is Named To Association Board Of Trustees John M. Archer, Jr., president of the Nantahala Power and Light company here, was elect ed tb the board ot trustees of the Cherokee Historical associa tion at a meeting in Cherokee Friday afternoon. During the day the associa tion played host to members of the Western North Carolina association, which celebrated its first anniversary at the Choro kee meeting. Among those from here who attended the meetings and an advance showing of the Chero kee drama, "Unto These Hills", were Mr. and Mrs. Henry W. Cabe, Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Whlt mire, Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Dillard, Mr. and Mrs. Ted Reb er, Paul Russell, and Mr. and Mrs. Frank B. Duncan. Lion Birthday Calendars Now On Sale, Reber Say* Lion Ted Reber announced this week that a limited num ber of community birthday cal endars have been obtained for sale to persons who failed to sign for one when the Lion's fund-raising campaign was In progress. '? ? Calendars may be purchased at the Western Auto store or from Mr. Reber for 50 cents. All pre-purchated calendars have been distributed or mallei, he (aid. '? / ' ' Korea ? and July Fourth AN OPEN LETTER To Men in Service Dear Fellows: cast Sunday marked the end of a year of war in Korea. And on next Wednesday the Declaration of Independence will be 175 years old. This letter is suggested by those anniversaries. I suspect, though, that it is prompted, too, by something quite different: The azalea and the laurel are in bloom on the mountainsides: and that reminds us at home that this Is the time when young people usually are going on camping trips, and that it soon will be time for family reunions. . . . This is an attempt by one who has a son in Korea to put on paper some of the things I think most of us back home feel at this season; to try to say what we would say, if we could be with you today, and sit down and talk with you. ? ? * We would tell you, first of all, of course, the news from home. We would tell you about the plans for celebrating Inde pendence Day ? about the usual, typically American greased pig and greased pole stunts, the baseball games, the dances; about the crowds that will be pushing and yelling and laugh ing, as though they hadn't a care In the world; about the big American flags? ^bought by most business houses in your little countyseat town for the occasion ? that will be f ying every where. We would tell you about the movement* getting under way here to clean up and beautify towns and countryside in this naturally beautiful region; that we are setting out to d" such a good Job of community house cleaning that you wlli hardly know the place when you come home again. And we would tell you that the school building program, for which your community went so heavily In debt a few years ago, is moving forward; and that we are determined that what goes on inside the new schools shall b2 as much Improved as the buildings themselves, so that the boys ani girls who are coming on shall have better chances than you had. * ? ? As we gave you these bits of news from home, It would be our hope that you would realize what lh?y mesn to us ? that these seemingly little things are a part of our e'fort to make democracy work, to prove that we deserve freedom. In short, that we, at home, are trying to preserve and mal:e worth while the things that you, away from home, are trylnj to save. We would try to tell you, maybe with a little embarrass ment, how proud we are of you. But we would add that you are doing no more than your duty ? a thing to remember, now and always. We would tell you how overjoyed we are at the prospect of peace In Korea. And Just here it probably would be yoq who would tell us something: Not to be too optimistic; that Korea almost certainly is only a phase of what may be a long strug between dictatorship and freedom. r Aha if #e were entirety honest, we would tell* you that there have been times when the war in Korea has seenv-d to us futile and hopeless; that we have been confused by the long, bitter MacArthur controversy lij Washington; thit we find it hard to make sense of what is going on in the *orld. But, as we talked, other wars would come to mind, and un doubtedly one of us would recall that almost every American war, At the time seemed futile and hopeless. Then, as we dis cussed the MacArthur hearing, I think we finally would ngree as to What the row was all about ? not whether we should be fighting in Korea, but how that wai' sho<i'd be w^ed. And gradually I think it would occur to both of us that there is a connection between the war In Korea and the Declara tion of Independence. Because today's struggle, like World Wars 1 and 2 ? yes, and like that long and seemingly hopeless war that started 175 years ago ? Is over Just one thing; Whether men shall be ruled or whether they shall be free. And so, as we ^talked on, I believe at last It would dawn upon us that the war In Korea is only the Immediate reason you are in uniform; that the real reason Is something deeper and much closer home; that we are fighting not chiefly for Korea or the Koreans, but for the rights and the freedoms and the principles that Hancock, Jefferson, Franklin and those other young daredevils demanded when they set their signa tures to that revolutionary document, back In 1776. "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Those words, so familiar to us all, have a new meaning in today's world. For what does a life maan. who has any liberty', how can anyone pursue happiness, In the ever-expanding area under the Kremlin dictatorship? And as we left you, to come back home, I believe surely an other phrase from the Declaration would occur to us, and send us hurrying back to our work at home ? ?r. . , we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our. Fortunes, and our sacred Honor." Weimar Jones. Bradleys Hold Family Reunion A Bradley tamlly reunion, the first since 1947, was held over the week-end at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Bradley, Franklin, Route 3. All of Mr. and Mrs. Bradley's nine children were present at the gathering. All of their grandchildren also were present, with the exception of Sgt. Billy J. Gibson, who Is In Korea, and Jimmy Bradley, of Winston Salem. ? , Others present were Mr. and Mrs. Carl V. Bradley and two sons, of Claremont, Calif., Mr. and Mrs.' Ralph Bradley, Mr. and Mrs. Hargrave Parrlsh and two sons, of Franklin, Route 3, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Qlbson and three daughters, of Franklin, Route 4, Mr. and Mrs. Troy L. Bradley and son, Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Cook and son, Mr. and Mrs. Connette Johnson and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Verlln Bradley and two sons, and Miss Betty Bradley, all of Wlnston Balem, The Rev. A. Rufus Morgan Is Awarded Fellowship For His Work In Macon The Rev. A. Rufus' Morgan, rector of the Episcopal church here, for his work among rural mountain people, was awarded a world fellowship at the 37th meeting of the National Rural Workers Fellowship of the Epis copal church held in Pennsyl vania . Friday, it has been learn ed. WU1 Hold Bible School Commencement Sunday Commencement exercises for the vacation Bible school being held at the Franklin Presby terian church will be held at 7:30 o'clock Sunday evening at the church. Each class will present a rep resentative part of its work, and awards will be made. ? The two-week school ended it* first week with an enroll ment of BO, including the eight teachers. MINER'S GROUP HEARS PRAISE FROM GEOLOGIST Y ancey Miner'* Behind Local Association, President Says Sixty-five member* of the Miner's association Friday night heard Robert F. Lawrence, fed eral geologist for the southeast ern region, compliment their organization on the advance ment it has made lince It was formed in April. Referring to the organization's rapidly expanding program, Mr. Lawrence said far more will be accomplished as soon as the organization's domestic mica program gets under way and membership grows. The regional geologist and a crew of co-workers from Knox vllle, Tenn. spent last week in th s area inspecting mining properties. Du.ing the meeting Roy H. Fouts, secretary, reported that a membership drive during the I week had swelled the organlza- i tion'j total paid membership to 331, A number Qf other ntfrier$, the seeretary said, indicated that they planned to Join later. Mr. Lawrence also answered a number of questions In re gard to applying for govern ment loans for exploration pur poses. He said it was his belief that the June 30 deadline for lean applications wq^ld fee ex tended ?inee a number Qf peo ple have nQt learned of the program whioh only was started in April. Yates Bennett, president of the Yancey County miner'* unit, pledged the support o. his 1 group and thanked members of the local organization for In- ' viting his group to affiliate with the association. Treasurer of the Yancey unit, C. F. Connor, spoke briefly en the lnternatlgnal Situation which has stimulated the |ov ernment's intent in a domest ic mica pi of ram He pointed oet- that mica imports from In dia have been discontinued maslng It necessary to find a new source of supply for de fense needs. Carl Buchanan, speaking In behalf of Jackson County min ers, said his county was looking to the association for leader ship and would need its as sistance. A representative of Armstrong Brothers In Atlanta, Qa., Archie Chapman, spoke briefly on the Importance of the association's v.ork In a community. DEACONS WILL MEET Deacons of Macon County Baptist churches plan to meet at the Holly Springs Baptist church tomorrow (Friday) night, It has been announced. Sapper will ,be served at 7 o'clock and a program is scheduled to fol low. HONEYCUTT TO PREACH The Rev. W. Jackson Honey cutt, superintendent- of the Wayrtesvlll'e Methodist district, whi preach at the morning eerv Ice Sunday at the Franklin Methodist church. Files A Detainer For Leavenworth Prisoner Wanted Here For Robbery; Partner Is Serving Time For Crime Solicitor Thad P. Bryson, Jr. announced- this week that he la filing a detainer tar a man serv ing a term In Leavenworth pris on who is wahtdd here In con nection- with a '1646 robbery spree in Highlands. Another man, who'siood trial here, is now serving a 25-year sentence tor hit put In the robberies. The Levean worth prisoner, who escaped from the Swain County jail In August, 1948, Just three days before he was to go on trial In Macon County su perior court, was apprehended in Little Rock, Ark., In Novem ber, 1948, and consequently was sentenced to prison by federal authorities for mall robbery. The wily robber, James Floyd Phllpot, alias F. L. Phillips, and Bern Garland, were picked up July 24, 1948 by Highway Pa trolman Pritchard Smith, Jr., and following an Investigation were charged with the July 10 break-Ins at Doyle's Self-Serv ice grocery. Potts grocery, High lands High school and theatre. Warrants were also Issued charging them with pomwton of burglary tools and carrying concealed weapons. Both of the men's wives who were with them were arrested but later were released when officers found they were not aware of their husband's second story activities. The man who slipped the pair the freedom-making saw blades Is still serving his sentence. Phllpot and Garland were placed In the Bryson City Jail, pending trial, but three days before court convened here, aided by a confederate who slipped them hacksaw blades, they sawed their way to free dom. The 22-year-old Garland soon after was caught In Cincinnati, Ohio, and was returned here for trial at the December, 1M8 term of court. The youthful Oartwd's trial created quite a stir In Macon County. He told the court he had been misled by the older Phllpot, who retained him as a chauffeur on a salary of $75 a week. Judge George B. Pat ton, presiding, sentenced the de fendant to St ywn. "Biggest And Best" Fourth Is Planned This country's celebration of its 175th year of Independence should be a smashing success if Macon County's plans for the Fourth of July are any indica tion. Ironically, the Fourth will be celebrated right on the heels of another anniversary marking a fight for freedom. The war in Korea was a year old last week. With an early start this year. Independence Day planners have gone all-out to provide a full day of festivities for cele brants and they hope this yea. will prove to be the "biggest and best" Fourth yet. Merrymaking will begin at 10 a. m. with a king-size parade complete with floats. Immedi ately after the parade festivi ties will resume at Franklin High athletic ileld where two beauty contests and field events for boys and girls and men and women are planned. A b&seoaii game at 3 o'clock between Franklin and Lavonia, Ga. will keep folks in the spirit o. things until the Veterans of Foreign Whs square dance gets unde way at the Franklin airport at 8:30 o'clock. A greasy pole with $5 on its top and cash prizes and mer chandise for field event win ners should provide the incen tive te keep ''everyone in there tfylng", committeemen pointed Out And a greasy pig, donat ed by Lee Poindexter and Down's Feed and Qrocery, will teat the grappling skill of any one doairing to catch the elus ive porker. Interest in the beauty con test mounted this week follow ing the disclosure that 14 local businesses plan to enter a con testant. A special float for con testant! u being arranged. All flfl# entered in the oontest are asked to meet Tuesday night at t o'clock at the chamber of eonyperoe building to assist in decorating the beauty chariot. WlftMr of the contest will be crowned "Queen of the Fourth/' at the V. F. W. square dance that night, and will be award ed a |1B cash prise. Runnerup will be given $10. Floats entered In the parade will be judged on the basis of originality. Decorating costs : cannot exceed )3. Cash prizes are to be awarded to winning 1 entries. Those planning to take part in the parade are asked to meet at the east side of the post office at 9:30 o'clock. Order of march is the Fran Klin band, American Legion post, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Veterans of Foreign Wars post, and floats. A feature of the field events will be an "old fashioned" bath ing beauty contest in wmi.ii women will model the bathing attire of yesteryear. Mrs. Orace O'Mohundro, in charge of the contest, requests all entries to meet with her at the chamber Of commerce building Tuesday night at 8 o'clock to assist with the "old fashioned" float. Field events for boys and men Include a sack race, potato race, three-legged race fat man's race, 100 yard dash fur boys over 14 years, 50 yard dash lor boys under 14, wheel barrow race, bear wa king race, baseball throw tor distance, basketball throw for distance. Prizes will also be given to the oldest man and the tallest jntv Girls' and women's events plan ned are 50 yard dash for girts over 15, 50 yard dash for girls under 15, potato ^ race, Wgh kicking slipper contest, married woman's race, husband and wife relay, basketball throw for distance, wheelbarrow race bear walking race, and priaes will be awarded to the oldest and tall est lady. - Following are some oi ine prizes being donated by local merchants : (Fourth pointed out that a number of merchants have not yet ^een contacted and said additional prizes probably will be added later.) Baldwin's market, car ton of cigarettes; Belk's Depart ment store, boy's sport shirt and a pair of girl's blue jeans; Perry's Drug store, flashlight. Franklin 5 and 10, lamp; Bow er's Department store, ladles blouse; Macon County Supply, harmonica; Macon theatre, eight free tickets; Sossamons Furniture store, card table, Jamison's Jewelery, boys' {***" et watch, Macon Furniture company, lawn tab>; _ shop, pair of lad.es hose. Reeves Hardware store, $2.au merchandise; Carolina Phar macy pound box of candy. Western Auto store telescope fishing rod; Franklin Hard ware, Duncan-Brlggs fly rod reel- Bryant Furniture store, lamp; Angel's Drug ; store . foun tain pen; Townsends cafe, car ton of cigarettes; Children s shop, sun suit; Crisp's, studio, two roUs of 620 ?Un; Blumen thal's, sport shirt; cafe, cigarette lighters/Theatre grill, two pipes; Franklin Press, one free subscription; DWe Home store, box of candy , Bank of Franklin, five silver dollars. Burrell Motor coihpany, plastic garment bag and han8ers, eagle's cafe, $1 dinner; Frances Shop, copper flower Planners for the Fourth are ?oresentatlves r> anous Frank lin organizations. Committee* are as iollows: organization: w. U. Crawford, cl^-rman. P?T mond Lowe, Wayne Proffltt, Harry Corbln, He.man ^naa.r!., Mrs. Tom Jenkins, Miss A~ie McGee, end Mrs. I toward : -i aid. Parade: W. V verUslng; Norma.; * Bob Sloan. Ba. e - James Plaine and i-3 ? Planning is uii-er " vision of B. L. iv-c^u-mary, chairman o the chanue. of commerce July 4 conui-iutJ. Clean-up Campaign Here Begins To Show Results With two town employes as signed full-time to the Job, the Franklin clean-up this week be gan to show results. At the Intersection of Maple street and the Murphy highway, a clean-up Job has been done that also eliminated a traffic hazard. A fence, overgrown with vines, which obscured motor ists' vision, has been removed, and other tidying up has been ? done at that spot. The rubbish on the Baptist church lot, at the corner of West Main and Porter streets, has been hauled away, ?nd Howard Stewart, it is under stood, will use his bulldozer to level the dirt recently placed on the lot in preparation for even tually building a church there. The Weather Temperature* and precipitation for (fee poet seven day*, and the low tempera two jreaterday, as recorded at the Coweeta xrriment station. High Low Pet Wednesday 78 61 Thursday 85 55 .SI Friday 87 58 Saturday ..... 89 58 .25 Sunday - 89 < 59 Monday .: 89 59 Tuesday ..... 85 58 .08 Wednesday 57 .49 Franklin BainlaU (A. nwM to " StilM far TV A) Wednesday, none; Thursday. .01; Friday, none; Saturday, .81; Sunday, none; Monday, none, Wednesday, .80.